Skinny Baby, No Insurance! What IS the rule?

October 23, 2009 by Cathy Ribble  
Filed under: News

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Are insurance companies denying coverage for legitimate reasons?

United Healthcare Golden Rule and other insurance companies seem to be playing both sides of the fence.  An insurance company denied coverage last week to a baby they called fat.  This week an insurance company is calling a baby skinny and denying coverage.  What IS the rule?

When Robert Bates started a new company, the Colorado couple began looking for health coverage for their two-year-old daughter Aislin.  He had no idea that he would be stepping into the debate arena on America’s health care and health insurance reform.

The Bates family received a letter from United Healthcare declining to cover Aislin because, “her height and weight do not meet our company standards.”  They claim Aislin is too thin to insure.

According to a Colorado news channel, Aislin weighed six pounds, six ounces when she was born, and now she is up to 22 pounds.  Aislin has been treated for a gag reflux which has affected her eating habits.  Even so, Bates does not believe Aislin is abnormal, or that she should be considered unhealthy.

United Healthcare claims it covers nearly 90% of people who apply for insurance.  They also claim that insurance companies set their own standards for health and weight guidelines.  The company went on to say that there was more to the decision than just weight issues.  A spokesperson told KMGH, “When evaluating height and weight we typically utilize other factors like medical records that show evidence of treatment.”

“What we want to see is that insurance companies have legitimate reasons for denying coverage,” said Aislin’s father.

The debate concerning health care reform continues, and Fox News reports today that a Senate vote on a proposed plan may be scheduled for November 9.

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